Collapsible tube



June 10, 1958 E. B. FREED 2,838,207

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed July 5, 1955 IN V EN TOR. 50M? 5. [@560 I BY 3 United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Edward B. Freed, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 5, 1955, Serial No. 519,740

4 Claims. (Cl. 222-99) This invention relates to a tube for holding various materials such as fluids and more particularly to a collapsible tube having features for obtaining the use of an optimum percentageiof the contents in the tube.

Deformable tubes are presently used for a number of different purposes. For example, tubes of this nature are used to hold toothpaste and shaving cream for use in the home and other fluids such as lubricatingoils and paint compounds in industry. These tubes are provided with a hollow elongated configuration and are closed at their bottom end to retain fluid. The tubes are adapted to be opened at their top end to obtain an extrusion of the contents from the tube upon the exertion of pressure against the tube.

Since the tubes are deformable, they can, be coiled upwardly into a spiral configuration as the contents are extruded from the tube. In this way, all of the contents are maintained at the top of the tube so that the contents 7 can flow from the tube with .a minimumamount of pressure. Winding the tube at the bottom to obtain'a compact relationship is also desirable since it tends to insure that, a substantial amount of the contents in the tube will ultimately be made available. a

The use of as much of the contents as possible is important in the household for such items as toothpaste and shaving cream since these are items which are used every day. Using as much of the contents as possible in industry is important because of the high cost involved in the purchase and storage of at least some of the contents. optimum .use of the contents in deformable tubes. Furthermore, the attempts have been made over a large number of years. However, the attempts have not been entirely successful.

This invention provides a tube for obtaining the use of an optimum amount of contents in the tube. The tube has an elliptical shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to its elongated dimension. This elliptical shape is important in providing for optimum efiiciency because it is the shape that the tube naturally adopts after a certain amount of the fluid has been used. A key ,is also provided at the bottom. of the tube to facilitate a manual gripping of the tube for coiling the tube into its compact form. The key may be integral with the bottom of the tube or it may be formed from a separate piece fixedly held at the bottom of the tube. The key may be provided with a particular shape such as a curved external shape to insurethat a maximum amount of unused fluid in the bottom of the tube is pressed upwardly as the bottom of the tube is coiled. The key may also be formed in other embodiments as will be described in detail subsequently.

An object'of this invention is to provide a collapsible tube in which almost all of the contents in the tube can 'be'used. 7 p

"" Another object is to provide a collapsible tube in which the tube can be easily wound upwardly into a spiral con- Various attempts have been made to obtain an figuration to maintain the contents at the top of the tube for optimum use of the contents.

A further object is to provide a collapsible tube having a key portion at the bottom of the tube to obtain a firm and easy grip for rolling successive layers upwardly upon one another.

Still another object is to provide a collapsible tube having an elongated configuration and having a substantially elliptical shape in a direction perpendicular to the elongated dimension to facilitate the use of almost all of the contends in the tube.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a detailed description of the invention and from the appended drawings and claims.

In the drawings:

, Figure l is an exploded perspective view of a collapsible tube constituting one embodiment of this invention;

- Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the tube shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the bottom portion of the tube shown in Figure 1 as seen from a position in front of and to the left of the tube and shows the tube in an intermediate state of formation;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of the collapsible tube shown in the previous figures in its final state of formation;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of a tube constituting a second embodiment of the invention, the tube being shown in an intermediate state of formation similar to that shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of a fourth embodiment of theinvention as seen from the left side of the tube;

Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of a collapsible tube forming a fifth embodiment of the invention; and V Figure 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figure 8 as seen. from a position defined by a section line 99 in Figure. 8.

One embodiment of an invention for a collapsible tube generally indicated at 10 is shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. This embodiment includes a hollow body portion 11 made from a suitable material such as a metal or a plastic having properties of deformation. For example, the body portiori 11 may be made from a suitable material such as tin. I The body portion 11 has an elongated configuration in one direction. In a direction substantially perpendicular to this first direction, the body portion 11 has a substantially elliptical configuration. This is best shown in Figure 2. V

A support portion 12 extends from the top of the body portion 10. The support portion 12 has a frusto-conical shape which tapers inwardly as it extends upwardly. A nozzle 14 extends'upwardly from thetop of the support portion 12. The nozzle 14 is preferably tapped so as to receive a cap. 16 which screws on the nozzle. When the cap 16 has been screwed on the nozzle 14, it prevents the flow of the contents such as fluid through the nozzle.

It should be appreciated that the tubemay be provided molding operation.

with the groove 34 to provide a further seal ,againstthe leakage of the contents such as fluid from the bottom These'walls are either incontact with each other or are separated from each other by arelatively short distance so as to provide at least a'partial seal against the leakage of the contents through the bottom of the body portion 10.

The seal against the leakage of the contents is completed by the inclusion of features constituting one embodiment of this invention. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, a key portion generally indicated at 24 and having a lobe 26 is provided in'one of the walls such as the wall 20. The lobe 26' is provided by increasing the thickness of the wall 20. 'The lobe 26 may be formed during the process of forming the tube as by molding such that the lobe is integral with the wall 20'. The lobe 26 ispreferably provided with a curved external configuration such as that indicated at 28. In this configuration, the thickness of the lobe 26 gradually increases with progressive movements downwardly along the wall- 20,

and then the thickness of the lobe= gradually decreases with further downward movements.

The lobe 26 extendslongitudinally acros s the tube in the direction in which the walls 20 and 22 remain substantiallyparallel toeach other. At one extremity, a handle 30 extends from the lobe. The handle 30 is-shown in Figures 3 and 4 as extending in a vertical direction 'and as being provided with two extensions, one on each side of the lobe. However, it should be appreciated that the' handle 30 can extend in any other direction than the vertical and can have a ditferent configuration than that shown in Figures 3 and 4.

At the position of maximum thickness of the lobe 26,

'the interior surface of the-wall 20 is indented to'form a groove 34. This groove retains a tongue portion 36 of the wall 22. The tongue portion 36 is formed during the The tongue portion 36 cooperates of the tube upon the exertion of pressure against the tube. As a final step in the formationof the tube shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the bottom of the tube 11 is tube back upon itself, further assurance is obtained'that no contents will leak from the bottom of the tube. The purpose of folding the bottom of the tube to retain the curved surface 28 in an exterior position will be described in detail hereafter.

Fluids such as toothpaste or shaving cream can be stored in the collapsible tube shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, and described fully above. These fluids are normally used in the household. Other fluids such as lubricating oils for use in industry can also be retained within the collapsible tube. Other contents such as semisolids and certain solids can also be stored in the tube for subsequent use. As may be seen, at least some of the contents which are held withinthe tube are quite expensive. Because of this, it is important that as much of the contents within the tube as possible be used. This is even true of such household items as toothpaste since it is used every day by the whole family and can mount to a considerable expense over the course of' a year, especially to a budget-minded housewife.

' The contents in the collapsible tube shown in Figures 1 contents have been removed from the tube. because of'the elliptical configuration normally imparted to 4, inclusive, can be used to a high degree. The contents are withdrawn from the tube by removing the cap 16 from the nozzle 14 and exerting pressure against the walls of the body portion 11. This compresses the walls because of the deformable nature of the walls and forces the contents out through the nozzle. Materials such as semi-solids and certain solids can also be withdrawn from the tube described above since a full amount of force is available to extrude the contents from the tube when the tube is compressed. This results at least in part from the movement of the contents into the top of the tube upon the coiling ofthe bottom portion and from-the fullness of the top portion of the tube.

As the contents are used, the tube starts to become empty. In order to maintain the contents at the top of the tube for easy extrusion through the nozzle 14, the contents are moved upwardly by pressing against the bottom of the tube. The longitudinal dimension ofthe tubeis then correspondingly'diminished by windingithe bottom of the tube upwardly into a spiral. This is accomplished by manually grasping the handle 30 of .the

key portion 24 in Figures 3 and 4 and rotating the key portion in a clockwise direction in Figure 4. By including the key portion 24, the bottom of the tube can be wound into. a tight spiral. This tends to insure that any contents in the portion of the tubing being wound will be forced .upwardlyin the'tube so as to be still available for use. It also tends to insure that the quantity withdrawn from the tube can be controlled with certainty at any time. The key portion 24 is alsoadvantageous in that it can be easily gripped to obtain an even coiling of the tube.

-By including the key portion 24, any possibilities of obtaining broken fingernails and bad tempers during the winding operation are minimized.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive,

is also advantageous because of the action of the curved surface 28. This surface contacts the-portion of the tube being wound and gradually increases the'pressure against the tube as another'loop is being coiled. Bygradually increasing the pressure on the tube, the contents inthe -tube portion beingwound-are forced upwardly into the I portion of the tube still being used. The curved surface 28 has a further advantage in-that it causes even the first turnsof the wound tube to have a curved configurashape in a cross-sectional direction perpendicular'to its longitudinal dimension, the tube initially has the shape which it would ordinarily tend to assume after some 'ofithe However,

to it,'the tube does not have anypockets created in it by changesin the shape of the tube. In this way, an increase is obtained in the amount of the contents such as fluid which canbe withdrawn from the tube.

' The tube described above is also advantageous because of the tight-coilsin which itbecomes wound as the'contents are removed. This tends to-eliminate air pockets 'and'prevents deterioration of items which are sensitive to'the air. By winding thetube in tight coils, the-space occupied by the tube is also minimized. 'I'his isimportant in the household because of'the limited space in the medicinecabinet and because of its tendency to keep the bathroom neat and clean. It is also important in. industry, where only a limitedispace is available for-the storage/of various materials. When the contents of the tube have been completely consumed, the space occupied by the tube in its coiled relationship is also minimized. This has advantages, especially in industry, both .fromthe :standpoint of the space required for storage of discarded containers and from the standpoint of shipping accommodations requiredfor. used containers.

The embodiment shown iti'Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, is

'5 advantageous for other reasons. It requires only a minimum amount of additional material and no extra parts as such. This is important, for example, when the tube is mass produced for household use. The tube can also be produced in a minimum number of steps. For example, it is possible to produce the tube in a single step.

The embodiment shown in Figure is somewhat similar to the embodiment shown in Figures l to 4, inclusive. As in the first embodiment, a lobe indicated at 40 is provided on. a wall 42 corresponding to the wall in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.- The wall 42-is provided with a groove 44 on itsinner surface in a manner similar to. the wall 20 in the previous embodiment. However, a second wall 46 corresponding to the wall 22 in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, is also provided with a lobe 48 which may have an outer configuration corresponding to the lobe 40.

At its inner surface, the wall 46 may be provided with a tongue 50 positioned and shaped to fit in the groove 44. The groove 44 and the tongue 50 cooperate to provide at least a partial seal against the leakage of the contents through the bottom of the tube. The embodiment shown in Figure 5 is also advantageous in that the walls and 46 may be bent backwardly upon themselves in either direction as a final step in forming the tube The walls 40 and 46 may be bent backwardly in either. direction since the curved surface on one of thelobes will face outwardly.

The embodiment shown in Figure 6 also includes a lobe 52 preferably having a curved outer configuration corresponding to that indicated at 28 in Figures 3 and 4. The lobe 52 is provided at one end with a socket 54 having a particular shape such as that of a polygon in vertical cross-section. The socket 54 is adapted to hold a key portion 56 having a shape in cross-section corresponding 'to that of the socket 54. The key portion 56 may be provided with a handle 58. r

The seal against the leakage of fluid is also obtained in other ways as by folding walls 60 and 62 in a sinuous path. For example, the walls 60 and 62 are first shown as being bent upwardly and to the left in Figure 7. This is indicated at 64 in Figure 7. As shown in Figure 7, the upwardly extending portions 64 of the walls 60 and 62 are somewhat separated from the downwardly extending portion of the wall. The walls 60 and 62 are then shown as being bent downwardly, as indicated at 66 in Figure 7. The walls 60 and 62 are subsequently bent towards the right as they extend downwardly, as indicated at 68 in Figure 7.

The walls 60 and 62 eventually extend upwardly as they extend towards the right. This is indicated at 69 in Figure 7. As a final portion, the walls 60 and 62 are looped backwardly on themselves to extend downwardly, this final portion being indicated at 70 in Figure 7. The portion 70 is separated from the wall 60 by a moderate distance. It should be appreciated that the portions 64, 66, 63, 69 and 70 are merely illustrative and that other arrangements may also be used. However, the walls 60 and 62 should be looped back upon themselves in some fashion to obtain a complete seal of the bottom of the tube.

A key portion generally indicated at 72 extends along the walls. 60 and 62in the direction in which the walls are parallel to each other. One end of the key portion 72 is disposed for support within the space between the portion of the walls 60 and 62 extending initially downwardly and the upwardly extending portion 64 of the walls. This portion is indicated at 74 in Figure 7. The key portion is then looped around and under the portions 66 and 68 port portion, a nozzle and a cap similar to that shown in Figures 1' to 4, inclusive, and described fully'above. A key portion generally indicated at 90 also forms a part of the embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9.

The key portion 90 has a substantially U-shaped configuration which extends around and under the portions 66 and 63, as indicated at 92 in Figure 9. To retainthe key portion in this position, the key portionmay be'.

crimped at spaced intervals inthe longitudinaldirection. This is indicated at 94 in Figure 8. The key portion extends laterallyoutwardly to a position beyond the walls 60 and 62 of the tube'to form a handle 96 similar to the handle in Figure 7.

Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated wtih reference to particular applications, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indi cated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an elongated hollow tube having a closed bottom to retain contents such as a fluid within the tube and having a top portion for obtaining an outward flow of the contents of the tube, the tube beingrnade from a deformable material to facilitate the fiow of the contents through the top portion upon the exertion of pressure against the tube and to facilitate the folding of the tube from the bottom into a plurality of sinuous layers in accordance with the removal of the contents from the tube, and a key portion integral with the tube at the bottom of the tube to facilitate a manual grip for winding the tube from the bottom into the plurality of sinuous layers, the key portion having a curved external surface of convex configuration to produce a gradual increase in pressure on the tube as the tube is rotated for an optimum removal of the contents from the tube as the key portion is rotated, the key portion having agrooved configuration at its interior and the tube having a tongue portion for fitting into the groove to facilitate a seal of the bottom end of the tube.

2. In combination, a collapsible hollow tube having a closable top portion for holding contents such as a fluid and for obtaining a flow of the contents through the opening of the top portion and upon an exertion of pressure against the tube, the tube having an elongated configuration in the direction of the flow of the contents and a substantially elliptical shape in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the flow of the contents, the tube being defined at its bottom end by a pair of walls separated from each other by a relatively short distance, and at least one lobe extending across at least one of the walls in integral relationship with the wall, the lobe being provided with a curved external configuration initially extending gradually away from the tube and then extending gradually toward the tube and being recessed at its inner surface to receive a tongue in the other wall for a partial sealing action, the walls being folded back upon themselves at a position above the lobe to provide a seal against the leakage of the contents through the bottom of the tube, the fold being made in a direction to retain the curved surface of the lobe in an external position.

3. In combination, an elongated hollow tube having a top portion with a closable nozzle for obtaining an outward flow of the contents such as fluid through the nozzle upon the opening of the nozzzle, the tube being made from a deformable material to facilitate the flow of the contents through the nozzle upon the exertion of pressure against the tube and to facilitate the folding of the tube from the bottom into a plurality of sinuous layers in accordance with the removalof'the contents from the tube, the tube having at the bottom a pair of walls extending in a substantially parallel configuration and.with a slight separation between them, and a lobe on each well extending along the wall in the parallel direction of the walls,"the" lobes having configur ations of arcuate convexity for producing a gradualinciease in' pressure against the wallsof the tube upon a coiling of the walls, one of the walls having a tongueat' its inner periphery and the other having a grooveata corresponding position on its inner periphery toreceive the tongue for the provision of at least a partial seal against the leakage of the contenls'fro'in the tube,'th e Walls being folded back upon themselves'at' a position above the lobes to provide a further 'sealagainst'the leaka'ge'bfithe contents from the bottom of the tube.

4.'A collapsible tube as setforth in claim 2 in which 8 a socket is provided in the lobe and in which 'a key portion is adapted to fit in the socket to facilitate the winding ofthe tube into a plurality of'coils upon the removal of contents from the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,699,549 Stanley- Jan. 22, 1929 2,672,258 Marberg Mar. 16, 1954 2,718,983 Deskey; Sept. 27, 1955 2,726,015, Poock Dec. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 327,336

Great Britain Apr. 3, 1930 

